Will my rabbit ears still work? Will we have to buy a new television set? How can I get television signals now? And most of all, why the switch? Those are a few of the questions constituents of the Yorkton Melville riding have called my office to ask recently.

They’re responding to a notice in the media that as of August 31st, certain television stations will switch from analog to digital reception, meaning that what some have dubbed “peasant vision” (channels a television receives without a cable subscription) may no longer be available to them.

The change comes as a result of a Canadian Radio and Television Commission ruling, and puzzles some television watchers, who wonder about the reasons for it. Quite simply, there’s a traffic jam on our airwaves, the invisible highways that bring signals to our television sets, computers, and other receivers.

Two kinds of signals travel through the airwaves—analog and digital. Digital airwaves take up less space, and bring better picture and sound than traditional analog signals. Decreasing analog signals will open the way for stronger, clearer digital signals such as those used by advanced wireless and public safety services like our police and fire departments.

For most Canadians who already view their televisions with the help of a subscription to internet, cable, or satellite, the switch will go unnoticed. Non-subscribers whose televisions pick up only free analog signals may still receive those channels, but to do so will need to purchase either a recent television, which has a digital receiver built in, or an analog-to-digital converter, available at major electronic stores.

However, don’t retire the rabbit ears quite yet. Not all rural stations will make the switch immediately. If you’re wondering about your favourite free channels, call your television stations to ask. 

You can find out more at digitaltv.gc.ca/ or by calling 1-877-249-2782.

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The audio version of Garry's Aug. 29, 2011 op-ed column can be heard by clicking here